Team Mgmt. 2025 Forward Line

[dalecooper]

langers has to play a few vfl games, wright been too good, maybe play langers down back or in perkins role

 

[Beerfish]

in perkins role

Sub?

 

[Yoda_]

And what do they do when Langford returns. gotta keep playing May. So where does that leave wright.

Its a good problem to have (Wright, May, Caddy)

Langford plays 3rd / 4th banana

 

[eth-dog]

Langford wing #youknowitmakessense

 

[ant555]

And what do they do when Langford returns. gotta keep playing May. So where does that leave wright.

Will be an interesting call. To play them all you would need to have at least one of them on the bench when the others are on the ground. Wright would probably have to be playing around 30% ruck and 20% bench. The other factor going forward is with Langford in then Gresham can not play and we will need another fast small forward. Maybe even two as you could not really carry Guelfi either I do not think. It can only work if you have 3 speedy small forwards to rotate though the forward line in my view. You would 100% not wasnt Langford / Wright / May / Caddy all on the ground at the same time too often even if both Caddy and May look able to make a few tackles and apply some pressure inside 50.
Will be interesting to see how Luals form holds up for the rest of the year.

 

[ant555]

Langford wing #youknowitmakessense

Could work. Wing / Forward / Bench.

 

[Yoda_]

Geez the kid in the #10 was good up the ground today. Some solid foundations have been put in place in 2025

Forward pockets still need to be found, hopefully Hussein El~Achkar can fulfil the promise he is showing. A marking forward/midfielder would be amazing. The midfielders we are trying to plug in just aren't cutting it.

The two bookends look set and forget for 10 years if injuries leaves them alone

Hussein El~achkar	Archer May	****
Isaac Kako	Nate Caddy	****

A fit Kyle Langford

4

Kyle Langford

Age

29

Ht

192cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.3

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

17.4

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

3star

G

0.7

4star

D

8.2

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

3star

changes the look of it. Id hope we can draft one like him and another small forward as well.

 

[Zach Package]

Need to find one or two strong runners with a strong defensive mindset in the Neal-Bullen or McCreery mould.

They have tried to turn Hobbs into that kind of player but the stuff away from the ball doesn’t come naturally to him at all at this point. Guelfi good close to goal but not quite that guy in transition.

Someone to quell Jeffries when he was just absolutely running riot with no one paying him any mind could well have changed the game today.

 

[Yoda_]

Need to find one or two strong runners with a strong defensive mindset in the Neal-Bullen or McCreery mould.

They have tried to turn Hobbs into that kind of player but the stuff away from the ball doesn’t come naturally to him at all at this point. Guelfi good close to goal but not quite that guy in transition.

Someone to quell Jeffries when he was just absolutely running riot with no one paying him any mind could well have changed the game today.

I wonder if Luamon can apply himself to this type of thing

 

[Zach Package]

I wonder if Luamon can apply himself to this type of thing

Lual is probably the best bet from the current listed players. His pre draft are notes are strong runner, tackles with intent and a diligent defender and that is starting to show through now, albeit it took a while and a positional change to get here.

Need another look at the current iteration of Davey Junior to make a definitive call, he’s a bit bigger and a year older, he could be a go.

Certainly can’t do a worse job of it than Gresham is doing.

 

[ghostdog]

Geez the kid in the #10 was good up the ground today. Some solid foundations have been put in place in 2025

Forward pockets still need to be found, hopefully Hussein El~Achkar can fulfil the promise he is showing. A marking forward/midfielder would be amazing. The midfielders we are trying to plug in just aren't cutting it.

The two bookends look set and forget for 10 years if injuries leaves them alone

Hussein El~achkar	Archer May	****
Isaac Kako	Nate Caddy	****

A fit Kyle Langford changes the look of it. Id hope we can draft one like him and another small forward as well.

I don't think three talls in the forwardline works if we want to play a high forward pressure game. If Wright stays in next year, maybe we use May's and Caddy's athleticism, alternating pushing up the ground for transition, with the other remaining around 40-50m.

We could have two good problems
looking at 26 and beyond; Edwards and MacMahon.

At the moment, I'm envisioning a 27 future with something like;

El Achkar* - MacMahon - Edwards
Luamon - Caddy/May - Kako

* because I'm not convinced we should take him or that we will.

At the moment I like Lou. Plays defensively. Big tank so he can support the wing. Composed kicking for goal. Small sample size.

I'm sold on May. Sky's the limit. Likewise Caddy and Kako.

Edwards has obvious promise if he recovers well enough from his ACL injury.

If Wright continues for now, I think his spot is MacMahon's to take. Caddy and May can continue that high half rotation. That could solve MacMahon if he shines at AFL level and we want to keep.
My other problem, Edwards, is that he's 191cm - means we have three talls in the forwardline anyway which I'm not entirely comfortable with. Does he play defensively if the ball turns over? Does he have the athleticism to roam? Does he play more as a tall medium? etc.

For reference;
Caddy 193
May 198
MacMahon 198

So, issues, but good issues.
I'd understand if we started looking at Langford and Gresh as trade bait.
I'd give Martin licence to roam anywhere on the ground.

 

[ant555]

I don't think three talls in the forwardline works if we want to play a high forward pressure game. If Wright stays in next year, maybe we use May's and Caddy's athleticism, alternating pushing up the ground for transition, with the other remaining around 40-50m.

We could have two good problems
looking at 26 and beyond; Edwards and MacMahon.

At the moment, I'm envisioning a 27 future with something like;

El Achkar* - MacMahon - Edwards
Luamon - Caddy/May - Kako

* because I'm not convinced we should take him or that we will.

At the moment I like Lou. Plays defensively. Big tank so he can support the wing. Composed kicking for goal. Small sample size.

I'm sold on May. Sky's the limit. Likewise Caddy and Kako.

Edwards has obvious promise if he recovers well enough from his ACL injury.

If Wright continues for now, I think his spot is MacMahon's to take. Caddy and May can continue that high half rotation. That could solve MacMahon if he shines at AFL level and we want to keep.
My other problem, Edwards, is that he's 191cm - means we have three talls in the forwardline anyway which I'm not entirely comfortable with. Does he play defensively if the ball turns over? Does he have the athleticism to roam? Does he play more as a tall medium? etc.

For reference;
Caddy 193
May 198
MacMahon 198

So, issues, but good issues.
I'd understand if we started looking at Langford and Gresh as trade bait.
I'd give Martin licence to roam anywhere on the ground.

If Wright is playing second ruck then the time all 3 are on the ground is not huge.

 

[ghostdog]

If Wright is playing second ruck then the time all 3 are on the ground is not huge.

Even then, you can't have all of Wright/MacMahon, May, Caddy, Edwards/Langford on the ground at the same time. 3 talls + a tall-medium is too many IMO.
Bench rotations or high half rotations between Caddy and May allows Wright to stay forward, as well as the option of Wright chopping out as ruck.
What to do with Langford/Edwards?

 

[Zach Package]

Interesting that no one has mentioned the big, mulleted elephant in the room with regards to the tall mix in the forward line discussion.

 

[Yoda_]

I don't think three talls in the forwardline works if we want to play a high forward pressure game. If Wright stays in next year, maybe we use May's and Caddy's athleticism, alternating pushing up the ground for transition, with the other remaining around 40-50m.

We could have two good problems
looking at 26 and beyond; Edwards and MacMahon.

At the moment, I'm envisioning a 27 future with something like;

El Achkar* - MacMahon - Edwards
Luamon - Caddy/May - Kako

* because I'm not convinced we should take him or that we will.

At the moment I like Lou. Plays defensively. Big tank so he can support the wing. Composed kicking for goal. Small sample size.

I'm sold on May. Sky's the limit. Likewise Caddy and Kako.

Edwards has obvious promise if he recovers well enough from his ACL injury.

If Wright continues for now, I think his spot is MacMahon's to take. Caddy and May can continue that high half rotation. That could solve MacMahon if he shines at AFL level and we want to keep.
My other problem, Edwards, is that he's 191cm - means we have three talls in the forwardline anyway which I'm not entirely comfortable with. Does he play defensively if the ball turns over? Does he have the athleticism to roam? Does he play more as a tall medium? etc.

For reference;
Caddy 193
May 198
MacMahon 198

So, issues, but good issues.
I'd understand if we started looking at Langford and Gresh as trade bait.
I'd give Martin licence to roam anywhere on the ground.

Im not sure where I see McMahon fit in with our current group.

As much as it sucks, he seems cannon fodder for a list already brimming with Kayle Gerryn and then injured trio of Edwards, Langford and Draper.

Langford still holds a place in the forward group, feel it could be he or Edwards.

Runners and smaller marking types is what I still want us to add. Archer Day~Wicks is coming from the rookie list, would love to add a Noah Hibbins~Hargreaves, Sam Cumming type in the draft. Another small forward (+E;~Achkar) would be great as the ones we currently have are simply not good enough, barring Isaac Kako

 

[Yoda_]

Interesting that no one has mentioned the big, mulleted elephant in the room with regards to the tall mix in the forward line discussion.

I just did

 

[eth-dog]

Interesting that no one has mentioned the big, mulleted elephant in the room with regards to the tall mix in the forward line discussion.

Because he's clearly not as good as Wright in the same role.

 

[Zach Package]

Because he's clearly not as good as Wright in the same role.

No, he is absolutely not, I agree, but you wouldn’t have thought we are offering him a multi year contract if he’s not in the plans.

If he can’t get his fitness to the point where he can be a primary ruck it will cause us a real problem.

Suspect the best combination will work out to be Wright, May/McMahon as the key talls, Langford in the genuine utility role that Perkins is kind of doing at the moment and then Caddy can essentially do whatever he wants.

 

[King Patty]

I'm sold on May. Sky's the limit. Likewise Caddy and Kako.

May had presence and showed he could finish with some nice goals outside 50.

Real Tom Hawkins vibes, he will only get better with more games.

He could be the best genuine tall forward picked from a mid season draft if he keeps up this progression.

 

[ant555]

Even then, you can't have all of Wright/MacMahon, May, Caddy, Edwards/Langford on the ground at the same time. 3 talls + a tall-medium is too many IMO.
Bench rotations or high half rotations between Caddy and May allows Wright to stay forward, as well as the option of Wright chopping out as ruck.
What to do with Langford/Edwards?

It is a bit of a non conversation for me. Some will play. Some will not and some will be injured. Some may not have opportunity. Just the way it is. Who is saying Edwards is a lock.
The basic structure going forward and all things going well should be May and Caddy as the main KPF's and a second ruck with some forward craft . What comes after that will be what it is. Medium forward and 3 small forwards to rotate.

 

[jdstorm]

Even then, you can't have all of Wright/MacMahon, May, Caddy, Edwards/Langford on the ground at the same time. 3 talls + a tall-medium is too many IMO.
Bench rotations or high half rotations between Caddy and May allows Wright to stay forward, as well as the option of Wright chopping out as ruck.
What to do with Langford/Edwards?

Actually have depth and selection pressure.

The Caddy vs Langford conversation is an interesting one as Nate is really thriving in that 3rd tall role.

Might only be room for one unless one of them can find another position.

So assuming Drapes is gone next season it will be

Ruck1 Bryan R/F Wright KF May 3rd Caddy

VFL
Ruck Viggo R/F Gerryn KF McMahon 3rd Edwards

Langford is the odd man out as he’s undersized to be your KPF

Langers can play a few spots so he might need to be the one to move. Was decent as a wing/mid so if he can work on his speed should be able to play some hhf

 

[jannissary]

Interesting that no one has mentioned the big, mulleted elephant in the room with regards to the tall mix in the forward line discussion.

think he's probably gone.

 

[Agronomus]

If we could upgrade Perkins to NHH we could run the famous U shaped forward line without a permanent CHF. Like the good old days before COVID and CTE

 

[Call Me Cake]

Wright is not the future. Neither is Langford. Club made it known we weren't going to go after any players that were over 28, this is a thinly veiled way of stating that we don't see anyone who fits that description as part of our future and by extension including those we already have on the list.

 

[King Patty]

2026 forward line has question marks over a few

i mean Guelfi dropped
Gresham, been hit and miss and rumours to blues.
Langers been injury prone
Draper not contracted
Wright maybe he's in maybe not.

but do we just rip off bandaid and go with young forwards

hf: Martin Caddy Perkins
f: El-Achkar May Kako
one of Draper/Wright also.